Last week I went to a book shop and looking for some travel books about Asia. I came across a series called culture shock – a survival guide to customs and etiquette, which exist for several countries, respective cultures. I was checking the Indian version but I was quite disappointed by the writings, as they were mainly observations made from foreigners. And I already observed most of these insights. Then I came across the German version of the book, and I bought it. So why the hell am I buying a book about Germany while I’m in India? Sound strange? Yes, this made me think?
First of all the book, which was written by a foreigner, gives some interesting insights of Germanys reputation and reception in the world. Secondly it is really good for me in order to express our culture habits, history and our German thinking. I found myself in deep discussions about Germans, the country, history and culture, finding not the right phrases and words in English to express myself. How do you explain the separation and unification, the time of the Nazis, Wessis & Ossis, No Go Areas, sozialverträgliches Frühableben and all that stuff?
One thing which came up my mind is that I speak a lot of German in Mumbai. In Paris I barely spoke German. Hugh. Is that bad or simply not worth mentioning it?
I think it is not a big point. It simply indicates that I hang around more with foreigners rather than local dudes. In Paris knew 3 German speaking people, and they even weren’t German. In Mumbai I have 1 ½ Germans (one Swiss considered as Semi-German by Indians) as flat mates. I attend from time to time the German Stammtisch. And there are a load of Germans in town.
One of our German Trainees simply avoids Germans in order to fall not into the trap of establishing a second German home in India. But I think this is a way too much. It is absolutely normal, to hang around with foreigners rather than with Indians. It is simply my background and we all face the same things in India good and bad.
Conclusion is I have fun with my Indian colleagues, the dudes from AIESEC, the Trainees and my German friends, so what? ;-)
First of all the book, which was written by a foreigner, gives some interesting insights of Germanys reputation and reception in the world. Secondly it is really good for me in order to express our culture habits, history and our German thinking. I found myself in deep discussions about Germans, the country, history and culture, finding not the right phrases and words in English to express myself. How do you explain the separation and unification, the time of the Nazis, Wessis & Ossis, No Go Areas, sozialverträgliches Frühableben and all that stuff?
One thing which came up my mind is that I speak a lot of German in Mumbai. In Paris I barely spoke German. Hugh. Is that bad or simply not worth mentioning it?
I think it is not a big point. It simply indicates that I hang around more with foreigners rather than local dudes. In Paris knew 3 German speaking people, and they even weren’t German. In Mumbai I have 1 ½ Germans (one Swiss considered as Semi-German by Indians) as flat mates. I attend from time to time the German Stammtisch. And there are a load of Germans in town.
One of our German Trainees simply avoids Germans in order to fall not into the trap of establishing a second German home in India. But I think this is a way too much. It is absolutely normal, to hang around with foreigners rather than with Indians. It is simply my background and we all face the same things in India good and bad.
Conclusion is I have fun with my Indian colleagues, the dudes from AIESEC, the Trainees and my German friends, so what? ;-)
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